Heart Health

Heart Health

What You Need to Know?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., more than all
cancers combined. Yet, it's largely preventable with right lifestyle
choices and knowing your numbers (Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Body
Mass Index). It's easy, it's quick and it can save your life.

Blood Pressure

Knowing your blood pressure and understanding its impact on your heart
is critical. Life-threatening complications can develop over a course
of years when hypertension exists.

How is blood pressure measured? It reports two readings the Systolic and
Diastolic. The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure while
the heart is beating. The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure
when the heart is resting between beats. The systolic pressure is always
stated first and the diastolic pressure second.

Systolic

Diastolic

Follow Up

Normal

Less than 120

Less than 80

Re-check in 1 year

Pre-Hypertension

120-139

80-89

Report to your MD within 2 months

Stage I Hypertension

140-159

90-99

Report to your MD within 1 month

Stage II Hypertension

At or greater than 160

At or greater than 100

Report results to MD immediately

Cholesterol

It is recommended to check your cholesterol levels at least once every
five years by everyone over the age of 20. If you are a male 35 and older
or a women age 45 and older, you should be routinely screened for lipid
disorders. The screening test that is usually performed is a blood test
called a lipoprotein profile. The lipoprotein profile includes:

LDL Cholesterol

LDL Cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase
your chances of getting heart disease. That is why LDL cholesterol is
referred to as "bad" cholesterol. The lower your LDL cholesterol
number, the better it is for your health. The table below explains what
the numbers mean:

LDL Cholesterol

LDL-Cholesterol Category

Less than 100

Optimal

100 - 129

Near optimal/above optimal

130 - 159

Borderline high

160-189

High

190 and above

Very high

If you have heart disease or blood vessel disease, some experts recommend
that you should try to get your LDL cholesterol below 70.

For people with diabetes or other multiple risk factors for heart disease,
the treatment goal is to reach an LDL of less than 100HDL Cholesterol.

HDL Cholesterol

When it comes to HDL cholesterol - "good" cholesterol - the higher
the number, the better it is for your health. This is because HDL cholesterol
protects against heart disease by taking the "bad" cholesterol
out of your blood and keeping it from building up in your arteries.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and
the body. A high triglyceride level has been linked to the occurrence
of coronary artery disease in some people. Here's the breakdown:

Triglycerides

Triglyceride Category

Less than 150

Normal

150 - 199

Borderline High

200 - 499

High

500 or higher

Very high

Total Cholesterol

Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol,
and other lipid components. Doctors recommend total cholesterol levels
below 200.

Total Cholesterol

Category

Less than 200

Desirable

200 - 239

Borderline High

240 and above

High

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight
and height. BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most
people. BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body
fat. When the percentage of fat is too high, this can put a person at
a higher risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol and diabetes.

Underweight = <18.5

Normal Weight = 18.5-24.9

Overweight = 25-29.9

Obesity = 30 or greater

Body Fat Percentage

The percentage of total body weight that is fat. Fat functions as insulation,
protection and energy reserve. When the percentage is too high, fat increases
a person's risk of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes,
heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Gender

Age

- (Low)

0 (Normal)

+ (High)

++ (Very High)

Female

20-39

<21.0

21.0-32.9

33.0-38.9

>39.0

Female

40-59

<23.0

23.0-33.9

34.0-39.9

>40.0

Female

60-79

<24.0

24.0-35.9

36.0-41.9

>42.0

Male

20-39

<8.0

8.0-19.9

20.0-24.9

>25.0

Male

40-59

<11.0

11.0-21.9

22.0-27.9

>28.0

Male

60-79

<13.0

13.0-24.9

25.0-29.9

>30.0

Skeletal Muscle Mass Percentage

Muscles attached to bones, used to move the body. Why is this important
to know? Increasing skeletal muscle mass through exercise and other activity
helps maintain a higher resting metabolism and prevents weight gain.

Protect Your Heart

Preventing Heart Disease

Gina thought her symptoms were caused by stress, but thankfully, she went
to her doctor. Without treatment, she risked suffering a major heart attack.
Now Gina is exercising, eating right, and getting back on the path to health.